For many people, dental hygiene and oral health have always been considered to be a very important part of life. However, when it came to our pets, we sometimes didn’t think about the impact that brushing my dog’s teeth could have on their lives. But now our thinking has changed! As pets have become an integral part of the family unit, veterinary medicine has also evolved in the specialized area of animal dentistry. We now understand not only the health risks, but the pain that periodontal disease can have on our four legged family members.
Don’t let periodontal disease become a serious health threat to your beloved pooch!
Just like in people, periodontal disease is a bacterial infection in the mouth. It begins with tartar build up on the teeth, causing the gums to recede and abscesses and pockets of infection to occur. Then the disease advances to cause bone infections and tooth loss in the pet. Another scary thing about the disease is when the gums become inflamed, bacteria can enter the bloodstream seriously affecting the kidneys and heart valves of the animal!
We want to try and educate pet owners about the imperative need for preventative dental care for their pets. And one of the most important things we tell our clients is that they need to start early when it comes to dental care. Almost 85% of dogs are already showing signs of periodontal disease by age 3 and many popular toy dog breeds are prone to losing permanent teeth as early as age 5 without proper care. Yikes!
Preventing “doggy breath” with yearly cleanings.
Our dental cleanings are simple, single-day outpatient procedures. We use anesthesia during all teeth cleanings to keep your pet safe and stress-free during the procedure and ensure maximum results. First, plaque is taken off the surface of the teeth with a dental scaler and a dental pick is used to eradicate tartar from both between teeth and below the animal’s gum line. We then polish the teeth. After the cleaning and polishing, we apply fluoride and a special gel film on the surface of the teeth and gum line to slow the reappearance of tartar in the pet. Because pets age rapidly, we suggest a bi-annual dental examination to help keep your pets happy and healthy!
We hope you enjoyed our “brush my dog’s teeth” blog! Please make an appointment today to commit to a dental care routine for your pets!